President Chen Shui-bian bestowed the "Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon" upon Central American Parliament President Julio Palacios Sambrano on the morning of April 6, honoring his contributions to promoting friendship between Taiwan and Central American countries.
After the ceremony, Parliament President Palacios said that Central American countries, sharing common ideals of peace, liberty, democracy, and national development, actively participate in the international community. He also spoke of the Central American Parliament's goals of strengthening democracy in Central America and working to create in the region a united body.
Established in 1991, the Central American Parliament granted Taiwan's Legislative Yuan permanent observer status in 1999. Since then, the relationship between the two legislative bodies have remained close, reflected by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng's visits to the Central American Parliament in 2002 and 2004.
Furthermore, in the past four years, the Central American Parliament has passed resolutions in support of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization and also immediately voiced its objection to China's passage of the Anti-Separation Law in March 2005. President Chen extended his deepest gratitude to Parliament President Palacios for his parliament's committed and unwavering friendship.
President Chen also expressed his pleasure of attending the 5th R.O.C. Taiwan-Central American Leaders' Summit in Managua, Nicaragua last September and thanked Parliament President Palacios for his parliament's recognition of Vice President Annette Lu and awarding her the "Condecoracion Parlamento Centro Americano, Francisco Morazan" on April 3.
The decoration ceremony took place at the Office of the President. Ms. Palacios, Sindy Smith de Palacios, Central American Parliament Vice Presidents Leopoldo Navarro of Nicaragua, Nelson Licona of Honduras, Julio Cesar Grijalva, Secretary-General of the Office of the President Mark Chen, and Vice Foreign Minister Francisco L.Y. Hwang also attended the ceremony.